Latest Car News in India

Friday, October 14, 2011

Force Motor New MUV based on Mercedes Benz Viano

Indian automobile manufacturer Force Motors are now planning to unveil a new Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) after the successful launch of their first Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) named Force One in September this year. The utility vehicle is supposed to be based on the Mercedes Benz Viano MPV. The news is not that surprising as the company has a lengthy and healthy history of launching refurbished and terminated Mercedes Benz and Daimler vehicles such as Force Tempo Traveller, Force Trax and Force Gurkha. The company established in 1958 has been developing power-trains for the German marquee in India. In its array of automobiles that comprises of passenger and commercial vehicles the Force Motors has put to use many older engines of Mercedes Benz.

It is speculated that the Viano based vehicle may be unveiled at Indian Auto Expo next year and will be launched in 2012. An engine similar to SUV Force One, the 2.2L Common Rail Turbo-diesel engine could be used or may be a bit lower than that. A maximum power of 108 bhp can be expected with a top torque of 290 Nm. Around the world Viano is offered with 7, 8 and 9 seater capacity, but in India it will noteworthy to see how Force Motors situates it’s Indian Viano.

In the exteriors one may not find many visible changes for the launch in the domestic market, the Viano is actually a van rather than an MPV as it consists of sliding gates for the seats at rear.

The price is not known yet, but one thing is for certain that the utility automobile will be marketed above Toyota Innova with its price, as it carries more space and utility as compared to Innova. But still it will compete with current MUVs on road such as Mahindra Xylo, Tata AriaChevrolet Tavera and Tata Winger apart from Toyota Innova.